Slot-closure device.



L BERG.

SLOTCLOSURE DEViCEi APrLlcATloN man ocT. 2o, m5. RENEWED sEPT.12, 1917;

Lm, v Mmm Non 2o, 191?.

aw V ruim, irri ik Forum l Unfit llnlj tilt Petit JOHN BERG, OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS. .ASSIGNOR TO METAL SPECIALTIES MANUFAC- TURNG: COMPANY, OFCHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

SLOT-CLOSURE DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2d, 1917.

Application led October 20, 1915, Serial No. 56925, Renewed Septemberl2, 1917. Serial No. 191,064.

shield disc osed in the patent to Mctlormaek, No. 1,'ltll-ol0, granted.luly 21, 'lill-i; and

the primary object is to provide a slot closure device of simplified andcheapened construction, which can be applied with great facility to theJfootboard of an automobile, and which will serve etten-tively toexclude the air which would enter the automo body through the slotsinwhich the foot levers of the automobile operate. The purpose is toexclude the heated air from the engine in summer time and the cold airin winter time, and to eX- clude the dust and dirt at all times.

The invention is illustrated in its pre-- 'terred embodiment in theaccompanying` drawing, in which- Figure 1 represents a broken verticalsectional view oi an automobile body equipped with a slot closure devicein accordance with my invention; Fig. 2, a plan view of the removablefootboards provided at the front portion of the Hoor of the auton'iobilebody; Fig. 8, an inverted view of the footboards, showingl the boardsseparated and the slot closure device applied to one of the boards; Fig.l, an enlarged broken section taken as indicated at line A/lot Fig. 3;and Fig. 5, a similar section, but showing one of the treadles andillustrating the manner in which the flexible resilient members ot theslot closure device are deflected from the closing plane, as the treadlemoves in the slot ot the footboard,

In the illustration given, A represents an automobile body having` abottom equipped at the front portion with removable .footboards A1, A2,shown inclined in the usual manner.

The meetingv edges ot the boards are rabbeted, or provided with kerfs,in the usual manner, as indicated at 1; and the meetingl edges of theboards are provided with the usual registering' slots 2, in which theclutchoperating pedal and the brake-operating pedals 3 (one shown)operate. The foototherwise boards are also shown` provided on theirupper surfaces with binding plates -l and having slots which registerwith the slots 2.

@ne of the boards, preferably the lower or rear board A1, is equippedwith the improved slot closure device B. This conipris s, in thepreferred form, a pair of metal plat G and T, and interposed sheets 'ofiiexible, resilient material, such as rubber sheets, 8. Vihe plates Gand 7 are provided with slots and the rubber sheets 8 are provided withslits 10 which are disposed centrally of the slots 9. The slots 9 areopen at one end, and are closed at the other end by metal portions 11.The slits 10 are open at the open ends of the slots 9.

The rubber sheets S are tirrnly secured between the metal plates orholders 6 and 7,

by means of eyelets lhe device B is preferably applied to the rear orlower board A1 as by means ot' screws 1b, rl`he device B is so appliedthat about one-halt' of the device projects beyond the edge of the boardA1, the projecting;- portion being that which corresponds with the openend of the slots 9. Vlhcn the footboards are in place, the slots 9register with the slots 2 in both boards, and the resilient, flexiblemembers S close the slots. The boards can be slipped into place in theusual manner, the pedals entering the open ends of the slots anddefieftiug the resilient rubber strips along the slits, as the pedalsmove through the slits, the rubber strips again closing beyond thepedals.

From the description given it will be u1- dcrstood that the improvedslot closure, in the preferred torni, comprises two stift' metal platesprovided with a series of slots which are open at one end, andL aslitted sheet ot ilexible. resilient material inten posed between saidplates, the slits being open at one end; and that' the device is soapplied to one ot' the footboards as to guard the slots thereof andproject beyond the edge at said ioot board a sutiicient distance toguard the slots of the'other footboard when the boards are in theassembled posi tion.

The device is simple, cheap, and easily manufactured, as wel] as readilyapplied. lttot'eover, the improved construction provides a continuityot' the walls of the fiexible, resilient sheets which prevents thepossibility of the pedals getting caught` and incar through the slots.

The `foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness ofunderstanding only, and no unnecessary limitation should vbe understoodtherefrom.

What regard as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

i' l'.-In a motor vehicle, the combination of a pair of removablefootboards provided at adjacent edges With registering slots for acontrolling lever, and a slot closure device comprising a stiff holdermember applied to one of said boards and projecting beneath the' otherboard, said holder member having a slot 4registering with the slots ofthe two boards, and open at one end, and flexible, resilient stripscarried by said holder member and presenting an open-ended slit throughwhich the lever may enter and in which the lever may Work.

2. In means of the character set forth, the combination with a pair ofremovable footboards of an automobile body, Which are provided atadjacent edges with series of registering slot-s in which thecontrolling levers of the machine may Work, of a slot closure devicecomprising a pair of plates having slots open at one end, and interingadjacent edges provided with registerl ing slots, of a closure. devicecomprising a still holder element provided With a series of slots whichare open at one end, and a plurality of rubber sheets secured to saidholder element and provided with slits disposed in the central planes ofsaid slots and open at the corresponding end.

Ll. ln means of the character set forth, the combination of a pair ofstiff plates provided with a series of slots which are open at one end,and a plurality of rubber sheets secured between said plates andhavingslits which are open at one end, said slits registering With thecentral portions of said slots.

JOHN BERG.

In presence of* L. HELSLAR, K. ONEiLL.

